/ˈæl.ki/
OriginClipping of alcoholic + -ie. First use appears c. 1844 in the defunct periodical Akron Ohio Buzzard.
- informalAn alcoholic.
“You want to know what it's like to be an alkie, don't you, boy?”
“Also, she fed patients who were unable to feed themselves and, occasionally, dealt with an alkie who treated a patient badly.”
Formsalkies(plural) · alchie(alternative) · alchy(alternative) · alky(alternative)